Improvement in seal-locks



(QNF'R'ANKLIN w; anooxs & GEORGE A. EVERE T;

Improvement in Sea! Locks.

Ne. 121,987. PatentedDec.19',1871.

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AM f'liarmlrwmwwlc co MY/OSBORNE3 mun-5s] UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKLIN W. BROOKS AND GEORGE A. EVERETT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGN- ORS TO THE AMERICAN SEAL LOOK COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEAL-LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,987, dated December 19, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANKLIN W. BROOKS and GEORGE A. EVERETT, both of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Seal-Locks, of which the following is a specification:

The subject of our invention is a seal-lock of the common D-form, consisting of a rigid bow and a bar sliding through its ends. Our improvement consists in combining with the sliding bar a notched or recessed cat-ch adapted to engage with a lip upon said bar and a seal of glass or analogous material, which must be broken before access can be had to the spring-catch for the purpose of unlocking.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a front view of a seal-lock illustrating our invention with the glass seal removed. Fig. 2 is a section at m m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a partial section in the same plane as that exhibited in Fig. 2, but on a larger scale, showing the spring-catch sufficiently withdrawn to interlock with the sliding bar, as hereinafter described.

A is a rigid bow or frame, formed at its ends a and a with mortises to receive the sliding bar B, upon one end of which is a head, 0. Within the bar B, in suitable position to comewithin the larger end a of the bow when the bar is locked, is a cavity or seat for the reception of a seal, S, which we prefer toniake of variegated glass, having numbers or other marks by which to designate it; but it may be of any other suitable material. In the face of the end a is an opening of proper dimensions to expose the seal S to view without permitting its escape. Underneath the place of this seal is a spring-catch, D, which engages in an aperture in the sliding bar, and is contained in a suitable casing, E, formed in one piece with the bow, or permanently attached thereto and serving to prevent access to the catch from the rear. F represents the spring which operates the catch D. The said catch is formed with a dovetail, d, or its equivalent, near its end, fitted to engage with a lip or flange, b, formed within the opening in the bar B, so that the parts will interlock when the catch is partially withdrawn, as illustrated in Fig. 3. This prevents the possibility of picking the look by rapping on the case in order to withdraw the catch by its own inertia while the bar B is pressed against it. At other times, when the springcatch is fully advanced, the prominence b of the bar rests against the catch, where it is of full size, and the bar may thus be kept from any play when properly locked. Apertures may be formed in the bar for the reception of one or more lead seals, G, for additional security, if desired. H is a recess formed in the bar B to'be caught by the pin D when the said bar. is slid back as far as necessary to open the look. This prevents the entire removal of the bar.

The bar being withdrawn far enough to open the lock the sealsocket will be exposed in readiness for the reception of a seal, S. The bar being then slid into its place will be locked by the catch D, to which no access can be had without breaking the seal. catch D may be pushed back by a pointed instrument and the bar can then be withdrawn.

We claim as our invention-- The seal-lock herein described, consisting of.

WALTER ALLEN. (93) The seal being broken the 

